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The top-seed Illinois State Redbirds host the 4th seed Central Florida Knights in a Region Three 2nd round NIT Tournament game that will take place at the at the Redbird Arena in Normal, Illinois at 7 PM ET. The betting odds opened with Illinois State listed as a -6 point spread favorite, but has been bet down to -4.5 at many betting shops. The total line for this game is on the NCAAB board at 128 points.
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Central Florida is coming off a 79-74 win over Colorado in the first round of the NIT where they covered the 3.5-point line. The total number of points scored in the game was 153, which was over the closing line of 139. The Knights have covered the spread in two of their last three games and in their last three games the total has gone over every time. Central Florida has won seven of their last eight games.
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Illinois State is coming off an 85-71 win over UC Irvine in the first round of the NIT where they covered the 10-point line. The total number of points scored in the game was 156, which was well over the closing line of 130.5. The Redbirds have covered the spread in four of their last five games and previous to the UC Irvine game the total had gone under in two in a row. Illinois State has won nine of their last 10 games.
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Offensively, Central Florida is putting up 67.6 points per game on a 43.9% FG average. On the defensive side of the ball the Knights are allowing 61 points per game, which ranks 5th in the nation, on a 36.4% FG average, which ranks 1st in the nation.
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Illinois State is putting up 69.3 points per game on a 44% FG average. On defense the Redbirds are allowing 61.3 points per game, which ranks 8th in the nation, on a 37.7% FG average, which ranks 5th in the nation.
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This is the first ever meeting between these teams.
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<h2>
Central Florida Knights at Illinois State Redbirds Betting Trends<br />
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Central Florida is 4-2 against the spread in their last 6 games.
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The Knights are 2-5 against the spread in their last 7 road games.
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Illinois State is 4-1 against the spread in their last 5 games.
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The Redbirds are 3-7 against the spread in their last 10 games overall.
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The game total has gone under in 6 of Illinois State’s last 8 games at home.
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<h2>
Public Money Consensus<br />
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In this NCAAB matchup between Central Florida and Illinois State have the public leaning slightly to the Redbirds minus the 5 points with 55%. The over/under bettors are thinking this game will go over the posted total line of 128 with 60% on board.
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